Dark History of Clinical Trials Episode 4

When 26-year-old Markinson suffered a psychotic break, he was given a choice no one should ever face: participate in a clinical trial or face long-term involuntary confinement. What followed was a tragic chain of events—his worsening condition, the helpless fight of a mother trying to save her son, and ultimately, a suicide that would spark a national conversation about ethics, consent, and mental illness in clinical research.

In this episode, we examine the heartbreaking story of the Markinson case—a chilling example of how regulatory systems meant to protect can fail the most vulnerable. We explore IRB bias, the complexities of informed consent under duress, and the urgent need for advocacy in mental health trials.